Carmel-based Lewis Builders’ Rebuild of 1960s House by Renowned Architect Takes His Design Esthetics Into 21st Century

Joseph Eichler was a renowned architect in the 1950s and ‘60s who was known for his clean, open, mid-century modern designs.

Carmel, CA, April 29, 2019 — Joseph Eichler was a renowned architect in the 1950s and ‘60s who was known for his clean, open, mid-century modern designs. But even an architect whose work was ahead of his time could use an update in the 21st century.

That was the design-and-rebuild challenge for designer-builder John Lewis of Lewis Builders in Carmel, California. He wanted to keep the design esthetics of Eichler, but update the look, feel and functioning of an Eichler-designed home from the 1960s perched on a hillside in Carmel with views of the ocean.

The challenges were many: the heating and ventilation system was poured into the concrete slab foundation and had pest intrusion. The floor plan was choppy — you had to walk through one bedroom to get to the other. The kitchen was crowded — you couldn’t see from the kitchen to the dining room nor to the ocean. Parts of the house were starved for natural light.

In addition, a crowded kitchen, a misplaced fireplace wall, and overgrown vegetation outside all hindered ocean views from this 1,600-square-foot house located a block and a half from the beach. An old patio arbor blocked natural light and felt crowded.

The challenge was to rebuild the house into a modern, well-equipped and well-lighted home yet still keep as much of Eichler’s design esthetic as possible.

“We pride ourselves on being able to accomplish any kind of architectural design, Victorian, Contemporary, Carmel Cottage, Craftsman, and so on,” said Lewis. “With this house, we wanted to pay homage to Eichler and do something he would do in 2020. He was pretty modern for his time, so we call this an ‘updated’ Eichler.”

Lewis and his team added a hallway, along with a slight bump out to the back that made three bedrooms out of two. Kitchen, living, dining, and foyer were all opened up with windows and skylights to bring the outdoors in.

Some of the solutions included:

•Original heating, and ventilation, system was removed and radiant floor heating installed.

“We wanted to use clean, simple lines and natural elements such as wood and to add a warmth and softness to the space,” said Lewis, who calls the design “organic contemporary.” “We honored Eichler’s design by keeping some of the main esthetics in place.

Lewis said he learned a lot about Eichler’s design sensibilities by working on the house.

“As a student of design, I’m immediately attracted to these types of homes,” he said. “I would do anything to learn from the masters like Eichler. So this was a close, intimate experience to work with this house and its design. It was enhanced with modern conveniences, while being true to Eichler’s Mid-Century Modern design elements. We believe Eichler would be pleased.”

Lewis Builders is the design/build firm that can make your dream home a reality. Located in Carmel, CA, we create beautifully designed homes specifically tailored to complement your lifestyle and increase your home’s value.

At Lewis Builders we believe in approaching design/build projects with honesty, integrity, and transparency by doing what we say we will do. We are committed to constant innovation, so that we can provide our customers with state-of-the-art products, exceptional service and distinctive designs.